SHILLONG, Sep 10: Is the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) being used as a platform to promote the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
This question arises against the backdrop of an ‘unusual’ programme that happened on the premises of NEHU here on Saturday.
The objective of the university is to disseminate and advance knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities in such branches of learning as it may deem fit, besides paying special attention to the improvement of the social and economic conditions and welfare of the people of the hill areas of the Northeastern region, and in particular, their intellectual, academic and cultural advancement.
The university however, on Saturday, hosted ‘[email protected] – Dreams Meet Delivery’ seminar which was attended by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
The programme was attended by students while several functionaries of the state BJP were also present at the gathering.
Sonowal, in his hour-long speech, left no stone unturned in heaping praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The transformation of India, which we have experienced under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji is phenomenal and historic. Narendra Modi ji is the example on how to transform the country with honest, committed and dedicated service to the nation. His leadership has inspired a billion people to work together and build a newer India that is proud, powerful and prolific. India today is growing multi dimensionally,” Sonowal said.
Continuing his praise for the PM, the Union minister said that Modi’s grand vision for India is taking shape but there is still much to achieve.
There was murmur amidst some professors of the university about the context of the programme that was held in the university.
Later, a professor, on the condition of anonymity, said that the programme and its context were a little unusual for him and many others.
The professor recalled that there were several instances when politicians have come to the university as resource persons to hold discussions on different policies and programmes of the government, but Saturday’s event was unusual to see the context of the programme.
For another professor, self-glorification replaced critical discussion at the event.
“Line between academics and politics went blurred as seasoned politicians tried to rouse positive responses. Party leader, ex-student leader, an ardent follower of the leader, and a member of Council of Ministers — everything came together creating some discomfiture in discussion-loving academic community of NEHU,” the professor said.
According to him, discussion on higher education was a miss in the entire discussion. There was no discussion on levels of growth, investment and outcome from academics, the professor added.
On the other hand, the Vice Chancellor of NEHU Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla, when asked if it was normal for NEHU to organise such a programme at the university, refused to comment on the matter.
More than 300 students of the University attended the seminar along with Director of Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong, Prof DP Goyal, besides senior professors, researchers and the faculty of NEHU.
